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Old 02-13-2010, 03:36 PM
 
12 posts, read 92,597 times
Reputation: 22

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Hey everyone... We are looking to buy a place for vacationing and are looking at either Clearwater or Sarasota, and are trying to decide between the two. We are from Canada and are looking for a safe and clean neighbourhood, with great beaches. I have heard the beaches in both are nice, but can't really seem to get any more info past that. We are also looking for a place where it will be easier to rent the unit. In essence, I would like to know which is better in terms of safety, crime, things to do, beaches (which is a big one), and rentability. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
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Old 02-13-2010, 04:21 PM
 
Location: Ohio/Sarasota
913 posts, read 2,361,418 times
Reputation: 447
Quote:
Originally Posted by aboutflorida View Post
Hey everyone... We are looking to buy a place for vacationing and are looking at either Clearwater or Sarasota, and are trying to decide between the two. We are from Canada and are looking for a safe and clean neighbourhood, with great beaches. I have heard the beaches in both are nice, but can't really seem to get any more info past that. We are also looking for a place where it will be easier to rent the unit. In essence, I would like to know which is better in terms of safety, crime, things to do, beaches (which is a big one), and rentability. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

No question. Sarasota. We had a place in Clearwater before we bought in Sarasota. Pinellas County is VERY crowded. I can't tell you how many police chases we saw. In fact we were out playing mini golf one night across the street from our place and the a car stopped about 50 feet in front of us and police pulled up, jumped out of their cars with guns pulled. I don't really know what happened after that, we were gone. I know that could happen anywhere, but it didn't. It happened to us in Clearwater.

The upside of the Clearwater area:
Lots of things to do (Pier 60 is great)
Lots of cheap shopping
Beaches are great, but Siesta Key is better (and you don't pay for parking)
Lots of restaurants (but most do not last long)

Downside to the Clearwater area:
Lots of crime
VERY crowded
Inconsistent areas (one area is nice, but the next block is not)

Things we like about Sarasota:
Beaches
Better restaurants
More places to be away from the crowds
More parks
More culture
people are nicer

My advice if is you are going to rent, you may want to try the Clearwater area. It would not be very difficult to move. But if you are going to buy. I would invest in Sarasota over Clearwater.

Just my opinion
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Old 02-13-2010, 06:59 PM
 
17,533 posts, read 39,109,818 times
Reputation: 24289
Quote:
Originally Posted by davery5872 View Post
No question. Sarasota. We had a place in Clearwater before we bought in Sarasota. Pinellas County is VERY crowded. I can't tell you how many police chases we saw. In fact we were out playing mini golf one night across the street from our place and the a car stopped about 50 feet in front of us and police pulled up, jumped out of their cars with guns pulled. I don't really know what happened after that, we were gone. I know that could happen anywhere, but it didn't. It happened to us in Clearwater.

The upside of the Clearwater area:
Lots of things to do (Pier 60 is great)
Lots of cheap shopping
Beaches are great, but Siesta Key is better (and you don't pay for parking)
Lots of restaurants (but most do not last long)

Downside to the Clearwater area:
Lots of crime
VERY crowded
Inconsistent areas (one area is nice, but the next block is not)

Things we like about Sarasota:
Beaches
Better restaurants
More places to be away from the crowds
More parks
More culture
people are nicer

My advice if is you are going to rent, you may want to try the Clearwater area. It would not be very difficult to move. But if you are going to buy. I would invest in Sarasota over Clearwater.

Just my opinion
I echo the above. ^^^^ I personally do not care for Clearwater, and I am a native of the Tampa Bay area. We live between Sarasota and Bradenton and for us, it's paradise. Great beaches, culture, far less crowded and less traffic, great nature preserves and tons and tons and tons of restaurants, bakeries, food shopping, I could go on and on.
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Old 02-13-2010, 07:07 PM
 
Location: Palm Island and North Port
7,511 posts, read 22,914,037 times
Reputation: 2878
Nice post Davery! Couldn't have said it better myself. I don't think I have anything to add
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Old 02-14-2010, 12:29 AM
 
Location: Punta Gorda and Maryland
6,103 posts, read 15,082,980 times
Reputation: 1257
I don't know anything about Clearwater, but I wouldn't miss a chance to vacation in Sarasota, and Siesta Key! That is what made me fall in love with Florida and decide to move here.
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Old 09-12-2013, 03:52 PM
 
Location: Seattle area
9,182 posts, read 12,121,823 times
Reputation: 6405
Can I ask which city has better downtown/city center? I can't find them on the map. Also, is the beach in Sarasota actually located in another city?
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Old 09-12-2013, 04:55 PM
 
Location: Sarasota, FL
1,713 posts, read 2,346,973 times
Reputation: 1046
Post #2 sums it up for me, too. Sarasota hands down. Unless you just really like crowded places.
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Old 09-12-2013, 07:58 PM
 
Location: Seattle area
9,182 posts, read 12,121,823 times
Reputation: 6405
I am not asking about living there, but actually visiting. Which city is more fun to visit?
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Old 09-13-2013, 07:48 AM
 
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
11,936 posts, read 13,098,224 times
Reputation: 27078
Quote:
Originally Posted by Botev1912 View Post
I am not asking about living there, but actually visiting. Which city is more fun to visit?
That's a hard question to answer because you have to tell us what part of Sarasota you will be visiting.

Family? Honeymoon? It all depends.

I'd take a vaycay on Siesta over just about anywhere.
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Old 09-13-2013, 10:06 AM
 
2,076 posts, read 3,104,126 times
Reputation: 1021
Quote:
Originally Posted by Botev1912 View Post
Can I ask which city has better downtown/city center? I can't find them on the map. Also, is the beach in Sarasota actually located in another city?
The downtown is roughly south of fruitville, east of 41, and north of mound. Main St is wall to wall restaurants and interesting shops. Palm is art galleries.

The beaches are on the keys.
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